Optically active transition-metal compounds: XXII. Stereochemistry and crystal structure determination of (η5-C5H5)CoI(NC4H3C(R)=N(S)-CH(CH3)(C6H5)) (R = H,CH3)

The crystal structures and absolute configurations of (η⁵-C₅H₅)-CoI(NC₄H₃-C(R)=N(S)-CH(CH₃)(C₆H₅)) (R = H, compound I; R = CH₃, compound II) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals of compound I are orthorhombic, with a 11.084(6), b 12.107(6) and c 13.121(7) Å, space group ^P2₁2₁2₁ and d (calcd, Z = 4) 1.69 g cm^?3 The structure was solved by the Patterson technique and refined with use of full matrix least-squares methods to R(F) = 0.031 and R_w(F) = 0.028. Compound II is nearly isomorphous and isostructural; a 11.246(6), b 11.923(6) and c 13.370(7) Å, d(calc., Z = 4) 1.71 g cm^?3 and was refined to the final agreement factors of R(F) = 0.044 and R_w(F) = 0.035. The Co atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination, with Co-I 2.595(2) for I and 2.607(2) Å for II; Co-(η⁵-C₅H₅ ring centroid) 1.681(4) and 1.703(5) Å; Co-N(pyrrole) 1.905(9) and 1.885(9) Å; Co-N(imine) 1.971(8) and 2.003(9) Å, all the parameters being well within values found in the literature. The configuration around the chiral carbon of the phenylethylamine is S for both compounds, whereas the configuration around the metal is R in I and S in II. The different metal configurations in I and II have their origin in the two different substituents (R = H, CH₃) at the imine carbon atoms of the chelate ring, which induce completely different conformations of the (S)-CH(CH₃)(C₆H₅) moiety in the two complexes. For both compounds the thermodynamically less stable isomer is enriched upon crystallization. Also, for compound I the solution and solid state conformations are almost opposite to each other, the conformation in the solid reflecting intramolecular interactions (phenyl/C₅H₅ attraction).